The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-08-07
CAPE GOD FISHERIES.
How a Great American Industry Origiu-
ated and Developed.

How a Great American Industry Origin
ated and Developed.
The first fish weir built in Cape Cod
waters of which there is record was
put down in the year 1855, at Monomoy
Point, Chatham. at a cost of 81. 500. and
the first year about So, 900 worth of fish
were taken. The first traps were very
crude affairs. some being made of brush
interlaced with laths, and some with
light poles hung with nets. Later on
others were built at different points
through Vineyard Sound and in Buz-
yards Bay.
About twenty years ago similar
experiment was tried at Pamet Harbor.
Truro. 1t was built of poles and laths.
but proved a failure and was abandon
ed after one seasons trial Nothing
more was done in this vicinity atcthe
wear business until the year 1880. when
a trap which had been in use during
the summer in the Bay Chaleur was
taken up, brought to North Truro, and
put down for a short time in the fall.
The venture proved success and from
this has sprung the present wear bust
ness of Cape Cod.
The poles of this trap were fastened
with large rocks and kept upright by
this means. The poles were hung with
netting, instead of being interlaced
with laths. From this time onward,
for four or five years, the growth of
this business was very rapid until now
eighteen deep water wears can be
counted from Wood end light along the
inside shore of the cape to the bound
ing line between Truro and Wellfieet,
besides number of shoal water wears.
Others are in use at Brewster, Dennis,
Sandwich, at various points around Bos-
ton harbor. and along the north shore.
The traps are built in the shape of an
arrow. with bell point The fact
that fish when pursued or frightened
almost invariably turn off-shore for
safety in deep water is taken adyan-
tage of in constructing the traps, the
otf-ends of which are in about forty
| feet of water. The poles are driven
some distance apart in a straight line
for about fifteen hundred feet from the
shore, which is called 1.-the leader
At the ends of this the poles are driven
in the shape of heart, with the point
| off shore and an entrance on either
side where it joins the leader.
About $50 poles, either oak or hck.
ory, and from twenty to sixty feet long,
| are used in the construction of each
trap. These poles, which come mostly
from Connecticut, cost from 81 TO 81
when ready for use, and last about two
years. About 2,100 square feet of net
| ting is used for each trap. which is
thoroughly coated with tar before be
ing used. Each trap is also provided
with an extra set of nets, which ar,
changed once a month.
The fish when swimming along witt
| the tide strike 1.-the leader" and natur
ally turning off-shore for safety, follow
the leader until they find themselves
inside the heart, from which they sell
dom escape, as they seek deeper water
instead of trying to return the way
they got in. At the point of the hear
the poles are driven in the form of {
circle, which is connected with the
heart and called "the bowl" which ha
a net bottom as we'll as sides. For cas-,
in handling the fish are driven from
the heart into the bowl, the net bottom
and sides of which are drawn close to
gether and the fish bailed into the boat
by small dip nets.
OF the products of the wears tn
mackerel and the bait fish are the prin
cipal dependence of the fishermen TO
profit. The bait. which includes her
ring, alewives, squid and some small
mackerel, is sold to the Cape Cod ant
Cape Ann vessels in the Georges ant
shore-fishing fleets, at prices rangin!
from 81 to SO per barrel, according t.
supply. 1t is carried to the fishing
grounds packed in ice. Some of tn
large mackerel are sailed, while mos
of the other sizes, also cod and othe
market fish, are packed in ice ant
shipped fresh to the commission dealer
of Boston, New York and Philadelphia
Almost every kind of fish known il
northern waters have been caught il
the traps, so many rare and curiou
specimens from the monster sea-turtl
down to the electric eel and the tin
smelt. The season begins about Apr
and ends at Christmas time, the crew
assisting at putting down and takin
up the traps.
The amount of capital invested in tn
business in Truro and Provincetown
estimated at $40, 900 to $780, 900. Tn
deep water traps cost from $4,000
5000, which includes one large sal
boat, two dories and large fish-hous
two or three stories high on the shore
besides the trap. The crews, consis
ing of captain and six men, work o
what is termed "half-pay," whic
means one-half of the net receipts afte
the freight. carting and commission
are deducted. The owners take tn
other half, out of which they deduct a
repairs on the trap. This means goo
dividends for the owners, and not $
good wages for the men. Some claiI
. that the capital invested in their bus
ness could be used to better advantae
in some other way, but it has undoub
eddy been godsend to Cape Cod
many respects. The highest wage
averaged per man last season wa
about 1875, from which it ran down
about 5000, out of which the man pal
living expenses -Prorincetoscn Co
Boston Globe.
; Neighborly Sympathy.